Battle of Stones River: The Forgotten Conflict between the Confederate Army of Tennessee and the Union Army of the Cumberland

by Larry J. Daniel

Three days of savage and bloody fighting between Confederate and Union troops at Stones River in Middle Tennessee ended with nearly 25,000 casualties but no clear victor. The staggering number of killed or wounded equaled the losses suffered in the well-known Battle of Shiloh. Using previously neglected sources, Larry J. Daniel rescues this important campaign from obscurity. The Battle of Stones River, fought between December 31, 1862, and January 2, 1863, was a tactical draw but proved to be a strategic northern victory. According to Daniel, Union defeats in late 1862―both at Chickasaw Bayou in Mississippi and at Fredericksburg, Virginia―transformed the clash in Tennessee into a much-needed morale booster for the North.

Daniel's study of the battle's two antagonists, William S. Rosecrans for the Union Army of the Cumberland and Braxton Bragg for the Confederate Army of Tennessee, presents contrasts in leadership and a series of missteps. Union soldiers liked Rosecrans's personable nature, whereas Bragg acquired a reputation as antisocial and suspicious. Rosecrans had won his previous battle at Corinth, and Bragg had failed at the recent Kentucky Campaign. But despite Rosecrans's apparent advantage, both commanders made serious mistakes. With only a few hundred yards separating the lines, Rosecrans allowed Confederates to surprise and route his right ring. Eventually, Union pressure forced Bragg to launch a division-size attack, a disastrous move. Neither side could claim victory on the battlefield.

In the aftermath of the bloody conflict, Union commanders and northern newspapers portrayed the stalemate as a victory, bolstering confidence in the Lincoln administration and dimming the prospects for the "peace wing" of the northern Democratic Party. In the South, the deadlock led to continued bickering in the Confederate western high command and scorn for Braxton Bragg.

Genres: Civil War, History, American Civil War, Nonfiction, American History, Military Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 5, 2012

Reviews

[Nestor Rychtyckyj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered this book as part of my prepapration for a road trip to visit the Stones River National Battlefield as well as the Perryville Battlefield. The book really gave me an insight into the battle and enhanced the whole experience for me. Stones River is not a particularly well-known battle and it's commanders (Bragg & Rosecrans) certainly did not go down in history as other Civil War generals did. However, the battle was certainly significant and bloody for both sides and this book does a fine job of explaining the course of this 3-day battle. The major Civil War battles (and this was certainly one) encompassed large armies with scores of officers and following the battle becomes difficult. I frequently find myself turning the pages back to check who are the Union officers and who are the Confederates. THis book is pretty good on that score even though the states of Kentucky and Tennesse provided troops for both sides to complicate things even more.

The author has a direct and unsderstandable writing style and mananges to bring the battle to life from the solders on each side to the commanders. The book is sprinkled with quotes from diaries, letters, journals and newspapers that describe the feelings and emotions of the troops as they headed into a battle that many would not survive. The casulty rates are mind-numbing - 60% or more of the troops in various commands were killed, wounded or captured in span of an hour or two. The bravery of these troops who marched firectly into killing grounds is unbelievable as is the fraility of other troops who ran from battle. This book captures all of these moments and describes the strategic sigbificance of the battle.

Having the book with me while walking this hallowed ground at Stones River really helped me to understand the battle and the man who fought and dies here more than 150 years ago.

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I set out to read this back-to-back with Peter Cozzens' No Better Place to Die: The Battle Of Stones River which has been THE book on this battle since its release. Alas, it did not work out that way and I finished this book off several months later and cannot compare much of the specifics.

Length of the two books is not substantially different nor are the maps (the latter being the source at least brief controversy). Some may simply find the writing styles more to their liking. Daniel pleased me by breaking up his book into lots of sections which always pleases me. (He also has a mildly annoying habit of making parenthetical asides like this.)

Daniel does directly disagree with Cozzens on at least a few occasions, but with 3 decades between their respective publications I'm sure there are more subtle differences.

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this is the best account of this battle. It has Daniel's usual touch, including fine primary source material and his thorough description of events before the fighting. Analysis is fair, and the Bragg syndrome (where he is blamed for all mishaps) is avoided. His take on Stevenson's transfer is reasonable and fresh.

The conclusion is a bit rushed. His description of Breckiridge's January 2 attack conveys the full horror of that futile assault.

[Mark Harden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed unit movements during battle descriptions were impossible to follow and the maps were of little assistance. It seemed that he was confusing left and right and east and west at times, but the narrative was so convoluted as to make it impossible to even confirm where he may have erred. A surprising number of typos for LSU Press. Good coverage of personalities and overall strategy and good use of first hand accounts.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Battle of Stones River is truly a forgotten battle in the Civil War and one of the few that would see fighting on a holiday as well. Larry J. Daniel examines this battle in great detail with "Battle of Stones River: The Forgotten Conflict between the Confederate Army of Tennessee and the Union Army of the Cumberland". This tedious but interesting read sets up the battle along with the whys and hows behind it. It also explains the set up for things that were later still to come in the Cumberland & Tennessee valleys both as fight for control of the Volunteer state would be waged on this and numerous other battlefields. If you can stick with this book, anyone with an interest in this battle or this part of Middle Tennessee will enjoy it.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

TMI, way too many facts to keep up with. No natural flow.
Book actually ends on page 211. The actual is page 313. A 1/3 of the book is appendix, notes, bibliography, and index.
The main reason I bought this book is because I live in the area and know it well. It didn’t even do that well.

Real letdown

[Arlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, but too many details of a dynamic battle for the reader to comprehend without accompanying maps showing movements rather than occasional static positions.

[Dorothea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not nearly as well written as other Civil War battle stories. This is mostly a litany of who was where, who was wounded or killed, missing a compelling story of the characters.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on the battle. Only reservation is that for a battlefield as complicated as Stones River more maps are needed.

[Damon Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, easy to read except for a number of editing mistakes and small errors. If you have some familiarity with the battle and armies annoying but manageable.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murfreesboro: 11July 2025. 👨‍🌾

[David Brown]

signed by the author